More than half of the UAE's employers are planning to recruit over the next few months, new research shows.

According to the latest Bayt.com Jobs Index, compiled in conjunction with YouGov Siraj, 27 per cent of employers in the UAE said their organisations would "definitely" be hiring in the next three months, while another 26 per cent said they would "probably" be hiring.

In contrast, only eight per cent said they would definitely not be hiring in the next quarter.

Meanwhile, when Middle Eastern employers were asked how they rate their current country of residence as a job market compared to those around them, respondents in Qatar, followed by the UAE, were the most positive about their country, with 47 per cent and 44 per cent respectively saying it was much more attractive than other countries.

"Regional companies seem to still be maintaining a climate of cost-consciousness and an emphasis on maximising returns on investment specifically in the HR arena," commented Amer Zureikat, vice-president of sales at Bayt.com.